The Fortnight in TV: 10/27-11/10, 2013

I’ve been really lagging behind on these TV updates, not to mention the blog as a whole. I apologize for that. I’m hopeful that things will get back to normal soon. And I hope that I’ll get back into the swing of my TV watching habits. I mean, look at this, I watched 11 episodes of television in a two-week period. That’s really unacceptable.

In the interest of getting back into the swing of things, I’m streamlining this feature of the blog and not listing watch dates and airdates. So here’s my breakdown of the TV I watched in the last couple weeks.

These two episodes are an interesting pairing. No Questions Asked is a nice representation of what the season has been for the most part in these first 7 episodes. This was an okay episode. I mean it had its moments. But, for the most part, it didn’t do much to advance the plot or the characters (except for the end). But I still enjoyed it.

The Lighthouse, on the other hand, felt like the season was getting back on track. Though, it didn’t feel that way until the episode’s ending. But the ending was great. I wasn’t too sure about the music they used, but showing us Ted’s proposal to The Mother was exactly what I’ve been wanting from this season. Now I want more of Ted and The Mother.

I am really enjoying this series. After six episodes, the actors and writers are finding their strengths and getting into their comfort zones. A cursory Google search reveals some mixed reviews in the (I can’t believe I’m using this word) blogosphere. That’s really a shame. I feel like the detractors of these series aren’t seeing its true potential. It’s a fun, goofy, workplace comedy whose setting allows it go places other workplace comedies can’t. I really like that Fox is putting its faith in this show.

I played catch up and watched the episode that I had missed and I was not disappointed. I loved seeing such a strong focus on the juxtaposition of the Eagleton people and the Pawnee people in this episode. The two Ron’s were hilarious. And even though I wouldn’t call myself a Billy Eichner fan, I got a big kick out of his role as Craig. Not so much the character (he’s a bit much) but I loved the way he and Donna played off each other.

If memory serves, there will be a new episode this week. I can’t wait.

The Walking Dead has been performing quite admirably this season. I’m impressed. The show’s plotline is breathing new life (resist the zombie metaphor, Matt) into a series that has had its share of ups and downs. I think I’m more impressed that this show can reinvent itself, in so many terms, so many times. This iteration is performing very well.

This episode was very good. The evolution of Carol was presented in such a genuinely good way that it almost retroactively improves my memory of the last few seasons.

Talking Dead has been fun as well. The thing that is jumping out to me about Talking Dead is the strange variety of the guests and how well they end up being. You can’t go into the talk show with preconceived notions about the guests because they’ll often impress you with their analysis of the show. I’m enjoying it as fun background noise.

As with every season of Boardwalk, we’ve had the build up and now things are starting to unravel. While I admit, I’m still behind on the show, I’m still really loving it. I won’t spoil it, but the ending of The Old Ship of Zion insanely intense. I couldn’t predict what would happen and that’s a feeling I love when watching a TV show.

Shameless plug, if you’re a fan of our podcast (ahem, The Obsessive Viewer Podcast which can be found here on iTunes) I think Tiny and I (Mike doesn’t watch Boardwalk) are planning a bonus episode devoted to breaking down season 4 after the finale airs. So be on the lookout for that.

Animation Domination is back. I’m annoyed that so many weeks of this fall season have gone by and we’re just now getting to episode 3 of these series’ respective seasons. Yeah, I know, Fox, baseball, World Series and playoffs. But come on, I don’t see why they would air two episodes and then save the 3rd for several weeks later. I guess it’s a moot point since they are cartoons and probably the furthest TV can get from serialized.

Quagmire’s Quagmire was okay as an episode, though. Nothing really jumps out but, then again, the show has become background noise to me, for the most part.

It’s hard to believe Bob’s Burgers is in its fourth season. I’ve probably said that before. But it bears repeating. This series is the anti-Family Guy in that every episode seems to be crafted for supreme watchability.

This episode is no different. Will Forte voices a pilot who gives Linda a private lesson but has an agenda. Bob spends the episode searching for her after finding out the pilot is notorious for seducing lonely housewives. It plays out well. I enjoyed watching it. I’m glad there aren’t any big sports events coming up to preempt it any more.

Having said that, I really want to like Agents of SHIELD. I really want the Marvel Cinematic Universe to translate well to television but I thought the pilot episode was just okay. This second episode was just about the same for me.

Marvel/Disney have created a massive, interconnected world of big budget blockbusters and have earned an obscene amount of money twice, probably thrice, over. The television iteration of this universe doesn’t feel like an extension of the behemoth it’s been borne from. It feels like a television show. That is a huge bummer for me.

ABC should know better after they had Lost on their roster. So much money was thrown into Lost’s pilot that the executive who gave the greenlight for it was fired before it aired. Agents of SHIELD comes off the heels of the massively successful The Avengers.

I’ve heard the show gets better and I thought the Nick Fury cameo was a really nice touch. I don’t dislike the show, I just hope it gets better fast.

That does it for this week (or pair of weeks) edition of my Week in TV segment. Have thoughts on what I’m watching? Want to suggest a show for me to watch? Leave me a comment and follow me around the internet with the links below.